Self-powered dispenser



May 2, i957 E. J. sUMMERsBY 3,317,150

SELF- POWERED DI SPENS ER Filed June 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 2l967 E. J. SUMMERSBY Y3,317,156

SELF-POWERED DISPENSER QN S United States Patent O 3,317,150 vSELF-POWERED DISPENSER Ernest John Summershy, Los Angeles County,Calif., as-

signor to Mirra-Cote Company, Inc., El Segundo, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Filed .lune 14, 1965, Ser. No. 463,717 Claims. (Cl. 242-552)This invention relates to a power operated dispenser for a roll or stripof paper, foil, plastic lm or like materials, in which the dispenser hasa selfcontained power source and drive mechanism.

The dispenser of this invention provides for exact control of the lengthof material dispensed and feeds material `automatically without thenecessity of pulling the free end of the material, with possiblepremature tearing from the roll, and without manually pushing or pullingof the roll itself -to effect rotation thereof.

'Ihis invention provides for power drive of a material roll t-o dispensethe material therefrom, in which the roll holder and support have anoverall length which is only slightly greater than the dimensions of thematerial roll itself. The power-operated dispenser of this inventionthus takes up substantially no more space than manual dispensing holdersnow in widespread use.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, a drive motor, and a powersupply therefor, in the form of one or more batteries, are concealedwithin a roller, about which a roll of material to be dispensed isdisposed. The drive motor is selectively energized by the user toinitiate rotation of the roller and, thus, of the roll of material. Thematerial is therefore progressively unrolled from the lroll. The motoris selectively deenergized by the user to terminate the unrolling of thematerial, a-fter any desired length, for severance of the material fromthe roll, and means are provided for preventing dispensing rotation ofthe roller during such material severance. Alternatively, if desired,the motor can be automatically shut olf after a predetermined timeinterval has passed.

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a holder and dis- -penser according tothe present invention for delivering a strip of material from a rollthereof;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal partial-sectional view of theholder of FIGURE 1, taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the actuation and braking structureassembly; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional View illustrating the actuation andbraking structure.

In FIGURE 1, a self-powered dispenser 10, constructed according to theinvention, has a generally U-shaped wall or support attaching portion11, and a paper roll 12 mounted on a roller 17 which is rotatablymounted on the -attaching portion 11. The wall or support attachingportion 11 has a pair of outwardly projecting, parallel legs 13 and 14.The legs 13, 14, have outer en-d portions 15 a-nd 16, respectively,supporting the roller 17.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the roller 17 comprises a' central tubularportion 18 which may be of plastic, such as styrene or the like, or of ametal such as aluminum or of any other suitable material. If the tube 18is of aluminum or other conducting material, it may be used as aconductor for the electrical supply to the drive motor in a manner to bedescribed subsequently. When a nonconductor, such -as styrene, is used,electrical conductors may be cemented therealong to complete the supplycircuit, asrwill also be described subsequently. The tube 18 is mountedon end members 19 and 21, which may be formed of a plastic insulatingmaterial, such" as styrene.

A supporting member 22 is cemented or otherwise mounted within the tube18 in spaced relation to the end element 19. A small electric motor 23'for driving the roller 17 is supported within the tube 18 between theend element 19 and the support member 22. A .power conductor 24 for themotor 23 is connected to a contact 25 on the interior face of a bulkhead22A, where it is engageable by the positive terminal of an adjacentbattery 26 mounted within the tube 18 and forming part of 'the powersupply. Any number lof -batteries may be provided, within thelimitations of the length of the tube 18 and the voltage for which themotor 23 is wound; two batteries, 26 and 27, connected in series, beingshown.

The negative terminal or base of the battery 27 is engageable fby acontact arm 29, extending inwardly from the end member 21 and normallybiased out of contacting relation with the battery base in a manner tobe described hereinafter. A negative or conductor 31 runs along theinner surface of the roller 17 and contacts the outer portion of thecontact arm 29 to provide circuit continuity between a motor lead 32 andthe contact arm 29.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the end portion 16 has disposed therewithinan actuator assembly 40. The actuator assembly 40 comprises a generallycylindrical member 39 mounted within an aperture in the end portion 16and having a central hub 41 with a passage 42 extending therethrough.Disposed in the passage 42 is one end of an actuator element 43. Theactuator element 43 includes an outwardly extending, annular baseportion 44 and a tubular pin portion 45. One end of the pin portion 45extends into and is slidably mounted within a guide annulus 46 formed ona |generally cylindrical portion of the end element 21, which isdisposed within and extends outwardly from one end of the roller tube18. The inner porti-on of the contact arm 29 is secured to the inner endof the cylindrical portion 90 (see FIGURE 2), and the latter isinterlockingly and slidably engaged at its outer end with the baseportion 44 of the actuator element 43. A cylindrical support member 47encloses the pin 45 and annulus 46 and is, in turn, surrounded by aspring clutch 48. The support member 47 has an annular end llange y49secured to the inner end of the cylindrical portion 90 of end element21. The spring clutch acts as a slip clutch so as to grip the supportmember 47 only when the spring and roller rotation is in the directionsuch as to tighten the spring about the support meinber 47 (in aclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 3). In order to facilitate this`gripping action, which acts as a brake t-o prevent roller 17 fromrotating as a sheet is -being torn from the roll of material 12, thespring clutch 48 has several -closely-spaced turns adjacent the angedend 49 on the support member 47. Since the flanged end 49 is secured tothe cylindrical portion 90, it is obvious that the support member 47 andend element 21 must rotate together. The spring 48 also serves asecondary purpose as a compression spring to normally bias the tubularpin portion 45 of the actuator member 43 out of engagement with thecontact arm 29, -owing to the engagement of one end of the spring 48with the annular base porti-on 44 of the actuator member (see FIGURE 2).Thus, the contact arm 29 is normally out of engagement with the base ofan adjacent battery 27 in the roller tube 18, and the circuit to themot-or 23 is open.

A bearing member 50 is disposed within and extends outwardly from thetubular pin portion 45 to facilitate engagement between the actuatormember 43 and the shaft portion 54 of an actuator button 55, the shaftportion 54 being slidably m-ounted within the passage 42 of the hub 41.When the actuator button 55 is depressed, the shaft portion 54 forcesthe inner end of the pin portion 3 45 against the contact 29, moving thecontact 29 against the adjacent battery base (see FIGURE 4).

A helical compression spring 56 extends between the annular wall 57 ofthe cylindrical member 39 and the end portion 1'6, thereby normallyurgin-g the member 39 inwardly toward the roller 17. The rol-ler 17 canthus -be lremoved from the outer porti-ons 15 and 16 of the legs 13 and14, respectively, iby movement of the roller against the bias exerted bythe spring 56, which [frees the opposite end element 19 from a hub 58,secured to the end portion 15, within which it is axially slidablydisposed (see FIG- URE `2).

Referring to FIGURE 2, the end element 19 'has a peripheral ange portion60, on the inner surface of which is formed a planetary gear 61 lby4means of a series of recessed gear teeth. A ygearreduction box 62 ofany suitable construction is disposed within the tube 18 adjacent thegear 61, and has a series of reduction ygears 63 forming a reductiongear train between the drive motor 23 and the gear 61.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the actuator assembly consisting ofthe end member 21 and its associated components, including the contactarm 29, clutch spring 48, and actuator element 43. From FIGURE 3, itwill be noted that the contact arm Z9 is disposed within a pair oflongitudinal ribs 70 formed on the -inner end of the cylindrical endmember portion 90, so as to be normally shielded from contact lwith theadjacent battery. When the actuator pin por-tion 45 is moved inwardly bypressing the button 55, the pin portion 45 presses the contact arm 29out from within the ribs 70 so as to make electrical contact with thebattery 27. Also shown in FIGURE 3 are a pair of pins 71 formed on theinner face of the actuator base portion 44, around one of which theclutch spring 48 terminates so as to tix the end of the spring withrespect to the base portion 44 of the actuator element 43. The endelement 21 has a rst aperture 73 Iformed therein in anoutwardly-extending, annular flange portion 74 thereof. The flangeportion 74 terminates in a frustoconically tapered peripheral rib 75, onwhich a depending lip 76 is formed in alignment with the aperture 73. Asecond aperture 77 is formed in the opposite side of the ange portion 74and corresponding lip 78 -is formed in alignment therewith. The lips 76and 78 serve to snap over a flange 79 (see FIG. 2) formed at the end ofthe roller 17, so as to lock the end element 21 to the roller. A seriesof grooves 80 is formed in the iiange 74 adjacent the lips 76, 78 inorder to facilitate the snapping of the end element 21 onto the roller.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the actuator assembly is shown in itsactuated position, that is, with the button 55 being depressed so as tocomplete electrical circuit continuity `in the motor power circuit bypressing the contact arm 29 against the ibase of the adjacent battery27. In FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the actuator element base portion44 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced bosses 85, extendingoutwardly therefrom, which are engagea-ble `with complementary recesses86 formed in the spring-biased annular wall 57 of the cylindrical member39, when the button 55 is not depressed (see FIG. 2). When the bosses 85engage the recesses 86, the actuator element 43 is locked in positionlwith respect to the support arm 14, owing to the cylindrical member 39being slidably keyed at 88 to the end portion 16. Thus, rotation in aclockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE l) of the roller 17, andtherefore the end element 21 (as seen in FIGURE 3), with respect to thecylindrical member 39, when the bosses 85 engage the recesses 86, causesthe clutch spring 48 to tighten about the support member 47 so as tolimit the clockwise angular displacement which is possible. When thebutton 55 is depressed, the bosses are freed from the recesses and theentire roller assembly, including the actuator element 44, is rotatableas a unit.

In operation, the actuator butt-on 55 is depressed, displacing theactuator pin 45 from the position shown in 4 FIGURE 2 to that shown -inFIGURE 4. This displacement of the actuator pin 45 moves the Contact arm29 against the base of the adjacent battery 27, thus completingelectrical circuit continuity between the battery 27 and the conductor31 through the battery base and the contact arm 29. Completion of hiselectrical circuit energizes the motor 23 within the tubular portion 18,causing rotation of the gears 63 in engagement with the planetary gear61 of the end element 19. The end element 19 is axially slidablydisposed in the hub 58 and is fixed with respect to rotary movementrelative thereto by frictional engagement or in any other suitablemanner. A rotatable bearing support for the roller 17, therefore, isformed by the vend element 19 in conjunction with the gear 61 and thereduction gears 63, as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, rotation of thereduction gears causes the roller 17 to rotate about the stationary endelement 19. A rotatable bearing surface is formed at the opposite end ofthe roller by the engagement of the shaft portion 54 of the button 55and its bearing member 50 with the tubular pin portion 45 of theactuator member 43. The roller thus rotates in a clockwise directionunder the power of the mo-tor 23 so long as the button 55 remainsdepressed against the force of the spring 48, thereby advancing thesheet material from the roll 12. When the lbutton 55 is released,electrical circuit continuity is broken, since the clutch spring 48,acting against the base portion 44 of the actuator element 43, moves theactuator pin portion 45 out of engagement with the contact arm 29, andurges the button 55 outwardly away from the end portion 16. The bossesthen engage the recesses 86 in the cylindrical member 39, so thatrotation of the roller in a clockwise direction is prevented by theclutch spring 48 tightening on the support member 4'7, as describedabove. The sheet material advanced from the roll 12 may then be readilytorn from the roller 17.

The invention claimed is:

1. A power-driven holder and dispenser for a roll of sheet materialcomprising:

a support; A

a tubular roller mounted in said support for holding the material rollthereon and rotatable therewith;

a motor for rotating said roller in a sheet material dispensingdirection;

a power supply for said motor; l

means mounting said motor and said power supply within said roller; and

power actuator means movably mounted on said sup port for selectivemanual control of the energization of said motor by said power supply.

2. A power driven holder and dispenser according to claim 1, whereinsaid power actuator means is mounted substantially in alignment with theaxis of said roller adjacent an end thereof and is movable in thedirection of said roller axis to energize said motor.

3. The holder and dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said motor andsaid power supply are so mounted within said roller as to be rotatabletherewith; and further including a relatively stationary elementadjacent an end of the roller and held by said support; and meansinterconnecting the motor output shaft and said stationary element foreffecting rotation of said motor and said roller upon rotation of themotor output shaft.

4. A power driven holder and dispenser for a roll of sheet materialcomprising:

a support including a pair of spaced arms;

a roller supported at its opposite ends in said spaced arms;

means for mounting a tirst end of the roller on one of said arms toprovide a irst rotatable bearing support;

a support element mounted in the opposite end of the roller androtatable relative thereto to provide -a second rotatable bearingsupport for the roller with the opposite support arm;

means operable in conjunction with said support element to inhibitroller rotation in a preselected direction;

a motor and a power supply therefor mounted within and on said roller;and

gear means interconnecting the motor and said irst bearing support,whereby energization of the motor effects movement of the gear means soas to rotate the motor, roller and material roll in said preselecteddirection with respect to the support arms.

5. A power driven holder and dispenser according to claim 4, andincluding an actuator button movably mounted on the opposite supportarm; an actuator member slidably mounted within said roller andengageable by said button; and contact means mounted on said roller andpositioned to be engaged by said actuator member upon a predeterminedmovement of said button to energize said motor and effect saidpredetermined rotation of the roller.

6. The holder and dispenser according to claim 1 wherein means areprovided for preventing said dispensing rotation of said rolle-r whensaid power actuator means is in a non-actuating position.

7. The holder and dispenser according to claim 6 wherein said rotationpreventing means comprises a clutch spring disposed Within said roller,said spring -being operatively associated with said power actuator meansto normally urge it to said non-actuating position 8. The holder anddispenser according to claim 4 wherein said means for inhibiting rollerrotation comprises a clutch spring mounted Within said roller and havingone end secured to said support element.

9. The holder and dispenser of claim 8 wherein power actuator means ismovably mounted on said opposite support arm and engageable with saidsupport element, and wherein said support element -and said opposite-arm are provided with complementary locking means which are engageableto prevent rotation of said support element relative to said oppositearm when said actuator means is disposed in a non-actuating position.

10. The holder and dispenser of claim 9, wherein said clutch springurges said support element into engagement with said actuator means tonormally urge the latter to a non-actuating position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1960 Mau242-5553 1/1965 Rozlag et al 312-39

1. A POWER-DRIVEN HOLDER AND DISPENSER FOR A ROLL OF SHEET MATERIALCOMPRISING: A SUPPORT; A TUBULAR ROLLER MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORT FORHOLDING THE MATERIAL ROLL THEREON AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH; A MOTOR FORROTATING SAID ROLLER IN A SHEET MATERIAL DISPENSING DIRECTION; A POWERSUPPLY FOR SAID MOTOR; MEANS MOUNTING SAID MOTOR AND SAID POWER SUPPLYWITHIN SAID ROLLER; AND POWER ACTUATOR MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAIDSUPPORT FOR SELECTIVE MANUAL CONTROL OF THE ENERGIZATION OF SAID MOTORBY SAID POWER SUPPLY.